Shloka 20

Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)

Devanagari script

शड्खं च पूरयामास मुहुर्मुहुररिंदम:

Transliteration

śaṅkhaṃ ca pūrayāmāsa muhur muhur arindamaḥ

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。敵を屈するその勇士は、法螺貝を幾度も吹き鳴らし、繰り返し響かせた。

Word by Word

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पूरयामास: filled; blew (the conch)
• पूरयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर्
• Form: Periphrastic Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मुहुः: again and again; repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः

• मुहुः: again and again; repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः

• अरिंदमः: enemy-subduer (epithet)
• अरिंदमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• śaṅkha (conch)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a morally fraught war, the epic highlights the kṣatriya code: maintaining courage, discipline, and cohesion. The repeated conch-blast symbolizes resolve and the duty to stand firm, while also reminding readers of the grave consequences of conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that a warrior described as 'arindama' repeatedly blows the conch. This functions as a battlefield signal and a psychological display—encouraging allies and intimidating opponents during the fighting in the Karṇa Parva.